I've discovered an old fire lane / access road / recreational trail behind the church where I drop off the boys one day during the week. I was told it was a three mile loop, but after one quick hike I estimated it would be a little bit longer, since they were not considering the distance to the pond. The first time I didn't do the whole loop due to time and the setting of the sun.
The second week I returned with a flashlight and attempted to arrive a little earlier. After letting a friend know where I was going I decided to attempt the whole loop, barefoot of course. The first part to the pond was nice on the feet, but then it turned into a gravel road. Not 100% gravel, but lots of it scattered on the tread way. There was occasional spots which gave my feet a break, but overall, it was tenderizing my feet for most of the hike.
I've hiked one of the larger mountains in our state last year barefoot and did well. I figured with an additional year under my feet it wouldn't be too difficult. And it probably wouldn't have been difficult if I hadn't undertaken the hike with a time limit, which was fairly reasonable, but looming over my head none the less. I had less then 1.5 hours to hike at least 3.5 miles, but in the dark with just a flashlight.
What bothered me the most was my posture kept deteriorating. I notice I was often walking slightly bent over and I would feel like I was waddling along the trail more than I was striding down the road. My pads took several good hits on raised rocks and of course the many smaller rocks would jump under my foot no matter how hard I tried to avoid them. I often proclaimed ouch loudly and just as often softly. I was wishing for shoes by the end of the hike, but was still impressed with my feet's ability to make the almost 4 miles in under 1.25 hours. My average pace, while not great for a jogger was 20.59 minutes a mile.
I'm still debating trying it again next week. My feet were just a little tender today and as I sit here typing I can feel the soles of my feet calling out to me to be kind to them. But I respond, What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
The second week I returned with a flashlight and attempted to arrive a little earlier. After letting a friend know where I was going I decided to attempt the whole loop, barefoot of course. The first part to the pond was nice on the feet, but then it turned into a gravel road. Not 100% gravel, but lots of it scattered on the tread way. There was occasional spots which gave my feet a break, but overall, it was tenderizing my feet for most of the hike.
I've hiked one of the larger mountains in our state last year barefoot and did well. I figured with an additional year under my feet it wouldn't be too difficult. And it probably wouldn't have been difficult if I hadn't undertaken the hike with a time limit, which was fairly reasonable, but looming over my head none the less. I had less then 1.5 hours to hike at least 3.5 miles, but in the dark with just a flashlight.
What bothered me the most was my posture kept deteriorating. I notice I was often walking slightly bent over and I would feel like I was waddling along the trail more than I was striding down the road. My pads took several good hits on raised rocks and of course the many smaller rocks would jump under my foot no matter how hard I tried to avoid them. I often proclaimed ouch loudly and just as often softly. I was wishing for shoes by the end of the hike, but was still impressed with my feet's ability to make the almost 4 miles in under 1.25 hours. My average pace, while not great for a jogger was 20.59 minutes a mile.
I'm still debating trying it again next week. My feet were just a little tender today and as I sit here typing I can feel the soles of my feet calling out to me to be kind to them. But I respond, What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.
Ha!
